COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The McKendree University men's and women's swimming teams recently earned Scholar All-America status from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

McKendree, which is coached by Jimmy Tierney, was one of 424 schools in all divisions and levels (NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA) to receive the award from the recently completed 2021 spring semester. Teams were selected on the basis of their spring grade point averages and represent a total of 17,982 student-athletes.

Along with being one 424 schools to be selected, McKendree was one of 46 NCAA Division II schools that had both their men's and women's teams selected and one of eight schools to have both teams selected from the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

During the 2021 spring semester, the Bearcat men amassed 3.42 cumulative GPA, while the Bearcat women posted a 3.64 cumulative GPA. The 3.64 GPA posted by the Bearcat women was the third highest among GLVC schools.

Fairmont State University topped all Division II men's teams this year with a 3.60 GPA, while Ouachita Baptist led the Division II women with a 3.79 GPA.

Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America is the nation's first organization of college coaches. The mission of the CSCAA is to advance the sport of swimming and diving with coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy, and professional development.